It's the news that all New Orleans Pelicans fans have been dreading for years. Superstar Anthony Davis today informed team management that he had no intention of signing an extension with the franchise and wanted to be immediately traded to a contending team.

Davis has been with the Pelicans since they drafted him with the first overall pick in 2012.

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The timing of this request by Davis is somewhat odd as the Pelicans are currently sitting in sixth place in the extremely tough Western conference, with a 25-25 record.

New Orleans are right in the middle of a really close race for the final playoff spots. Fifth-placed Portland are just two games ahead of the tenth-placed Los Angeles Lakers.

Perhaps Davis is just tired of carrying a team on his back. Maybe he doesn't just want to make up the numbers and making the playoffs simply isn't good enough anymore. You can't really blame him for wanting to join a team with other star players.

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Sources indicate that Davis has a list of four teams that he would consider re-signing with long-term if traded to. They are the Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Clippers.

Despite this short list of candidates, you would still expect every other team in the league to at least make one phone call to Pelicans GM Dell Demps in the coming days.

This news has also put the futures of Jrue Holiday and Nikola Mirotic up in the air. The former is too old to be apart of a rebuild and the latter is expiring this Summer. Could both players be traded for draft picks?

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What can the Pelicans expect to get in return for their franchise player? Here are some rumoured offers floating around on social media:

This one isn't really a serious proposal. It's more of a theoretical best package that Oklahoma City can offer, given that you can never rule Sam Presti out of pulling off a trade coup.

A big three of Westbrook, George and Davis would certainly put the Thunder in real contention. That line-up with Nerlens Noel and Andre Roberson would be insanely elite defensively.

But it's highly unlikely that the Pelicans would even give that deal a second thought. Adams would be wasted on a rebuilding team and those picks probably won't be in the lottery, unless Indiana are poor again next season.

Just days after Anthony Davis sent shockwaves through the NBA by requesting a trade, the New York Knicks have stolen the limelight by trading all-star forward Kristaps Porzingis to the Dallas Mavericks.

Tim Hardaway Jr, Courtney Lee and Trey Burke will also head to Dallas as part of the deal.

Immediately on paper this deal looks to massively favour the Mavericks as they acquire a genuine star player who is still only 23 years old. Pairing Porzingis with rookie sensation Luka Doncic is a very exciting prospect, even for neutral fans.

If Mark Cuban can get him to re-sign long-term and then add a third star player to the team, then Dallas may be contenders for the next decade or so.

The Mavericks could still possibly have over $60 million in cap space next season, although most of that will presumably be taken up by player options for Harrison Barnes and Dwight Powell. Not to mention the big contract needed to retain Porzingis.

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It is strange that the Knicks have traded away the face of their franchise. But once you look at this deal more closely you see how brilliant this gamble could be for them.

They may have lost a unique and quality player, but this trade opens up so much possibility for the franchise. They dumped two terrible contracts and in doing so created potentially $100 million in cap space for next season.

Theoretically they could replicate what the Miami Heat did in 2010 and sign three superstars. Imagine Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Kawhi Leonard teaming up in the Big Apple.

Let's not forget that they also currently lead the race for college phenom Zion Williamson right now as well. A bit of luck on draft lottery night could set them up for a massive Summer.